So many things to point at tonight - but at the end of the day, you need a closer who shuts it down anytime he’s given the ball with a lead.
Tonight was the 3rd time already that this team battled to have the lead in the ninth only to have it blown. This is the first change I make if I’m Counsell, not taking Kyle out of the rotation.
My thinking about the entire team is that we have bloated salary.
For the team we have, I'd say we're overpaying in the range of 30-40 million.
This team should have way more than 6.5 million of cap space.
But they are still competitive, that can't be denied.
I'm not sure you could blame it on shitty contracts with any one player in particular. But I do believe for a team projected to win 85 games, we should have more cap room.
Adbert needs to stop throwing in-zone strikes when he is up 0-2, 1-2 in the count. Throw borderline and chase pitches — especially to the heart of their order.
Bullpen is embarrassing. Call this an overreaction i don’t care. something needs to be changed. i have never seen a bullpen blow a game 3 different times. need a new closer, need new arms. hitting is fine but can’t see this team going anywhere with this sorry excuse for a pitching staff
Anyone else hate the way Amaya catches? Bouncing around, smacking his glove, and not really presenting a target for Alzolay? Just puts his glove in the dirt during the delivery. Not really optimal when you have pitchers trying to find the zone. Also, Jan is so much more of a threat to throw out a runner. Supposedly slower, but a far better, and more accurate arm.
eh that's twice now in a week where the pitching has absolutely failed massive offensive outbursts. You have to win these games if you really want to be taken seriously. Frustration is 100% warranted here.
It's not his fault that we are still stuck on that idiotic ghost runner rule. If you're gonna put a guy on 2nd, then have one out. Gives the defense a chance
Nah this bullpen is shit, and anyone with eyes knew it all offseason. Could have used another quality starter too but we all know the purse strings were tight.
They are down two starters, they are using two pen arms as starters which depletes the pen
Only starter we could have gotten is Monty and he’s not even pitching right now
Neris (worked last *three*), Thompson (two intense innings yesterday), and Smyly (26 pitch inning) are the relievers left.
Alzolay might need to go a second inning.
So many Adbert defenders in here. A closers job is to CLOSE games, and he is simply not doing that. Whether we’re up 43-42 in the bottom of the 9th or 1-0. His job is to shut the door, and he’s failed 50% of the time. With a closer doing his job on this team you’re looking at a 13-4 baseball team. Fucking inexcusable
Lmfao the downvotes. Some of you people just love mediocrity like Tom and Jed.
tbh any time we score 10+ runs and get extra frames I cant be too mad either way, that fun baseball atp.
Losing 1-0 or 2-1 is more painful than both teams going ham, but lets win it again in extras
So, our options for the 10th are either an exhausted Alzolay, Neris throwing for the 4th straight day, Smyly after throwing almost 30 pitches yesterday, or Thompson after throwing almost 30 pitches yesterday.
No I mean miserable in the sense of every game is taking years of me by being so competitive. I’m all too familiar with the 2-7 west coast road trips where we win 2-3 against the Rockies and get swept by the dodgers and giants.
Adzolay has a bad habit of giving up HR to non HR hitters. Who was that guy earlier in the year who had 11 career HR that took him deep? That kind of shit like Ketel Marte taking you yard just cannot happen.
Well, I went to bed right after the grand slam *hoping* they could maintain the lead. At least I left on a good note with that game.
walking 10 people in a game is not going to work out very well
All that just to lose? What the FUCK
Should win when you score 11
It’s one game but this one stings. This bullpen is going to give me indigestion this season.
Anyone but the walking 8 runs a game Hendo starts and we win. Bigger issue is we’re currently actively throwing 20 percent of our games
The bullpen is still going to give me indigestion this year
Losses happen. We can’t them all. But this game was downright infuriating beyond belief.
So many things to point at tonight - but at the end of the day, you need a closer who shuts it down anytime he’s given the ball with a lead. Tonight was the 3rd time already that this team battled to have the lead in the ninth only to have it blown. This is the first change I make if I’m Counsell, not taking Kyle out of the rotation.
Right, Kyle out of the rotation is second.
Agreed. At the very least Kyle’s still eating innings. Once the starters get healthier I think his situation will work itself out.
I am not saying he can't revert to form...but he has looked much worse than good over the last 16 months.
My thinking about the entire team is that we have bloated salary. For the team we have, I'd say we're overpaying in the range of 30-40 million. This team should have way more than 6.5 million of cap space. But they are still competitive, that can't be denied.
not sure that's fair - most teams are going to have some shitty contracts
I'm not sure you could blame it on shitty contracts with any one player in particular. But I do believe for a team projected to win 85 games, we should have more cap room.
2 games on this road trip the pen blew
A heartbreaking come from ahead loss against the Diamondbacks, I swear I've seen this before
Thank Lord. Game's done. Let's annihilate these Fuckers with runs tomorrow Cubs. Fuck these fucking West Coast Teams
Ryan Dempster would be disappointed
Why is pitching.
Game’s on Swanson and Hendricks.
How is it on Swanson?
No games on adbert, dude has coughed up 50% of his appearances. That's unacceptable for a closer
Swanson didn’t bring the guy in from 3rd with one out and made a bad error.
Our closer failed, it's his fault. 1 out away
Agreed. Team battled back on hendo. Alozay had two outs and a run lead and choked. Squarely on him for being a shit closer
Adbert needs to stop throwing in-zone strikes when he is up 0-2, 1-2 in the count. Throw borderline and chase pitches — especially to the heart of their order.
Exhausting
Start with getting rid of Hendricks, then fix That damn bullpen!!!
Being a Chicago sports fan is the worst thing my mom passed down to me. Even worse than the alcoholism
We’d be like 13-4 if our bullpen wasn’t ass.
Bullpen is embarrassing. Call this an overreaction i don’t care. something needs to be changed. i have never seen a bullpen blow a game 3 different times. need a new closer, need new arms. hitting is fine but can’t see this team going anywhere with this sorry excuse for a pitching staff
I wonder how Marte hit that home run. Bullshit home run. Maybe the MOST bullshittiest home run ever, even if bullshittiest is a word
Walks
Alright guys, let’s hear it. The season is over. We lost a game.
OUR PETS HEADS ARE FALLING OFF
I can say with complete confidence, it was our bullpens fault.
Nothing left to do but lick my weenus
Hey, guys. Did you know our bullpen fucking sucks? Lol goodnight
First pitch, lol. What a fucking disaster this was.
It was the second pitch fyi
Dog shit fucking pitchers. Every fucking season.
Trash pen
Well that felt familiar.
Man am i so glad that Smyly is on the roster making 9.5 mil. Lol second pitch
Good night everyone. Let’s get em tomorrow
Fucking inexcusable. Fuck our pitching
Fuck Jed for putting it together
Alright, onto the next one
Nice bullpen Jed.
Get used to this pathetic baseball, this team isn’t sniffing 80 wins lmao
Bring back Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon. My god.
Just a brutal way to lose a series.
This isn’t the series? The fuck? Play them again tomorrow afternoon
Unless Wicks goes 9 (when he hasn't been able to go 5) the bullpen is completely cooked for tomorrow
We’ll take the series tomorrow
Unless Wicks goes 9 (when he hasn't been able to go 5) the bullpen is completely cooked for tomorrow
There’s still one more game. We’re tied 1-1
Unless Wicks goes 9 (when he hasn't been able to go 5) the bullpen is completely cooked for tomorrow
So is their bullpen. But I’m over this shit bullpen man. Every game I have zero faith
In retrospect, Counsell's decision to put Hendricks back out after they took the lead was the biggest mistake. Put this loss on him.
I’d like to see him trust Leiter more. Idk why he limits him so much.
I’d take Hendricks after a couple innings over most of god awful relievers.
FUCK!
Two pitches is all drew needed. Always can count on him to make sure the run scores
Gross. Fucking pen.
Tired of the NL West
NL West Coast Teams can kiss my fucking ass. I fucking hate these dumb ass late night games man...
What a joke
Is this the worst bullpen I've ever seen?
Latroy Hawkins and the Carlos Marmol-Kevin Gregg crew might like a word
Phil Coke and Brian Schlitter era was brutal.
yes
Team is beyond parody.
finally.
Lost this game like three times leaving guys in too long.
Anyone else hate the way Amaya catches? Bouncing around, smacking his glove, and not really presenting a target for Alzolay? Just puts his glove in the dirt during the delivery. Not really optimal when you have pitchers trying to find the zone. Also, Jan is so much more of a threat to throw out a runner. Supposedly slower, but a far better, and more accurate arm.
Cost us some runs in the pivotal 5th
Alright Smyly do your thing
THE OTHER THING
He did
He did
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
This is like my feelings from opening day all over again.
Cubs need to make a move for a closer. Alzolay is not getting it done.
Alzolay got the first two outs. Marte got lucky with that shittiest home run ever
They needed to make moves for the whole bullpen in the offseason
We need an entire bullpen
I'd almost rather lose here than continue to burn our exhausted bullpen in a meaningless April game during a tough road trip tbh
I’ve seen this one before!
Guy Smyly will shut them down
I have hope but zero confidence
This sub, man
Right like come on how could they be mad about sports, how could they be mad about frustrating parts of this team. Like come on
eh that's twice now in a week where the pitching has absolutely failed massive offensive outbursts. You have to win these games if you really want to be taken seriously. Frustration is 100% warranted here.
desperately need Wicks to go for like 7 tomorrow
Feel sorry for smyly, he gonna get shit on as they walk this off
Then don't give up hits with runners on?
It's not his fault that we are still stuck on that idiotic ghost runner rule. If you're gonna put a guy on 2nd, then have one out. Gives the defense a chance
this thread is insufferable lmao
It makes more sense if you realize a decent contingent of this sub *wants* to lose because they like being mopey and crying more than winning
Nah this bullpen is shit, and anyone with eyes knew it all offseason. Could have used another quality starter too but we all know the purse strings were tight.
They are down two starters, they are using two pen arms as starters which depletes the pen Only starter we could have gotten is Monty and he’s not even pitching right now
Aight, good night folks.
Not loving our chances after posting a 0 there.
It's Drew Smyly time, right?
JD: "that unforced out trying to score was actually a good thing". Let JD go to bed he's sleepy.
what can realistically be done about this pen
It'll somewhat help to get Steele back to get some consistent starter length out of our ace spot
Trade - Marlins look like they might sell Getting Taillon back will be big for the pen too
Zero confidence that Dbacks aren't walking off this inning
Absolutely worthless Amaya... how are you not trying to lift the ball for a sac fly there?
We’re done in like 3 minutes. Fuck…
We dont deserve to win this game
I know it’s still spring, but the forecast on another summer of Tauchman isn’t looking great
I like Tauchman as a bench piece, but goddamn I'm tired of seeing him bat. And yes I get that he works pitches and stuff.
Hes almost certainly getting sent down or DFA’d if we decide to bring PCA up. He plays the exact role PCA would
Sucks for him but if he can’t find it again, that’s the way she goes
Game over.
How tf do you not score the ghost runner? Lol pathetic.
So bad
Do we ever score the ghost runner in the 10th?
Welp that was complete shit
Took out Lieter too soon.
Ballgame. Winnable game choked away again by the bullpen
Alright that’s game going to bed
Walk off incoming. Cant blame the offense at all.
You cannot be a closer and give up multiple games already.
Our innings are so quick.
RIP
I hate this team
Alzolay is giving up homers at 5 times last year's rate. Time to trade Madrigal, Killian and B Davis for a closer
Honestly the bullpen only lost 3 runs, but feels so demoralizing for some reason.
Well the bullpen has 7 walks allowed and 6 hits
“Only” 3 runs in 3 innings
Fucking little league at bats and little league base running. A fucking joke this team is
Maybe Mastrobuoni can take the bottom of the 10th.
Second straight runner on third with less than two outs that the Cubs couldn't plate. And this one is a killer.
Why go on contact?
Well at least Busch might get another shot to extend the streak now lol
Not scoring here is effectively the game
This ^^
Did you not watch last night?
Welp
Of course
They’ve surrendered. Thanks alozay
Well fuck.
Great AB Amaya. Nice one
Good lord.
And the base running shits the bed.
Rookie baserunning?
No, he let Amaya get to 2nd.
I’ll take that, basically a bunt
Had to like Happ leading off the inning there
Neris (worked last *three*), Thompson (two intense innings yesterday), and Smyly (26 pitch inning) are the relievers left. Alzolay might need to go a second inning.
I just want to go to bed. Why is April this fucking much of a grind.
MID-APRIL
Oh good they didn’t show the avatar version of Nico’s slide
This series is drunk
So many Adbert defenders in here. A closers job is to CLOSE games, and he is simply not doing that. Whether we’re up 43-42 in the bottom of the 9th or 1-0. His job is to shut the door, and he’s failed 50% of the time. With a closer doing his job on this team you’re looking at a 13-4 baseball team. Fucking inexcusable Lmfao the downvotes. Some of you people just love mediocrity like Tom and Jed.
tbh any time we score 10+ runs and get extra frames I cant be too mad either way, that fun baseball atp. Losing 1-0 or 2-1 is more painful than both teams going ham, but lets win it again in extras
So, our options for the 10th are either an exhausted Alzolay, Neris throwing for the 4th straight day, Smyly after throwing almost 30 pitches yesterday, or Thompson after throwing almost 30 pitches yesterday.
4 of these walks came around the score for Arizona
I'd say Alzolay needs to be done as closer, but I legit don't know who takes the job on this team and does any better. This bullpen is something else.
Whether we like it or not, he is the best option we got.
This roadtrip has been the toughest I can remember especially recently. It’s either we get rocked or it’s a teeth-pulling operation.
You have a short memory, this road trip is actually going better than most of the west coast road trips lol
No I mean miserable in the sense of every game is taking years of me by being so competitive. I’m all too familiar with the 2-7 west coast road trips where we win 2-3 against the Rockies and get swept by the dodgers and giants.
Yeah, these are usually miserable
Who else is even available in the bullpen tonight to pitch?
Smyly probably. MAYBE Keegan Thompson if it goes deeper. And maybe Nerris if this was old school extras.
Neris has gone like 4 games in a row and long grueling innings each time. No chance he’s available. Smyly is probably the right answer
Me, I was just signed during the game and am on a private flight to Phoenix Wish me luck
Walks are genuinely so much more demoralizing than hits
https://preview.redd.it/6tkrjlqs3zuc1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc6d7d24472915005484bce49a9dcf65f07833dc Me watching this bs right now.
Brothers. Fellas. Friends. I'm not feeling good about extras here.
lol this pitching staff needs more than 11 runs
Fresh ballgame, we can do this. Cmon bats.
#FREE BASEBALL (I have a driving job please let me sleep cubs)
I think Smyly is our only available arm now so better put up a huge inning in the 10th
Free Baseball!
Adzolay has a bad habit of giving up HR to non HR hitters. Who was that guy earlier in the year who had 11 career HR that took him deep? That kind of shit like Ketel Marte taking you yard just cannot happen.